Md. Fire Crews Battle 3-Alarm Auto Shop Blaze

City fire crews battled a three-alarm fire at an auto repair shop Monday, with residents miles away reporting that they could smell the smoke.

The blaze occurred about 4:15 p.m. in the 4100 block of West Belvedere Avenue in northwest Baltimore.

Units arrived at the scene to find a two-story brick building engulfed by fire on the first and second floors. Heavy smoke and flames could be seen far from the fire scene.

At 6 p.m., firefighters told 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanuagh they were making progress in battling the blaze. The fire was under control later in the evening.

Tires inside the building fed the fire and churned out dense, black smoke, fire officials told Cavanaugh. The building partially collapsed in the rear.

Paramedics treated one civilian who suffered burns to his hands, according to Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright.

On the
WBAL-TV Facebook page, Brian Klein wrote, "You can smell burning plastic in Owings Mills, and there's a definite haze in the air. I hope this isn't toxic and if so, they should issue a warning for people to stay indoors."

Lawrence Fasick wrote, "Here in Howard County, I can smell what appears to be rubber burning and visible haze." A third commenter, Erin Kelly Morrison, said she could smell the burning tires in Reisterstown.

The cause of the fire hasn't been determined. The fire didn't spread to nearby buildings.